Immunology, Infection and Inflammation

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• List the types of vaccines currently in use, those under trial and compare and contrast their beneficial properties or limitations.
• Outline how innate immune cells respond to bacterial LPS and cytokines
• Explain the principle of vaccination and outline its historical origins
• Describe how pathogens can cause disease and identify the strategies adopted by enterohaemorrhagic E.coli.
• Identify how lack of immune tolerance can lead to autoimmune diseases.
• Describe the role of the complement in the immune system
• Define the roles of B and T lymphocytes in acquired immune responses
• Describe the immune responses associated with parasitic infections
• Recognise the key cells and mediators of the innate immune system and the mechanism of their recruitment to sites of inflammation
• Define how HIV-1 infection can lead to AIDS and describe the therapeutic strategies to prevent clinical progression

The module aims to give students an introduction to basic immune mechanisms and is highly recommended for students intending to study immunology further (e.g. Biol3037). Lectures 1-8 of the module provide a basic overview of the innate and acquired immune system and the molecular and cellular mechanisms employed to combat inflammation and infection. The following lectures apply the basic mechanisms to various disease states, including HIV-1, enterohaemorrhagic E. coli, parasites and incidences of impaired immune recognition that results in autoimmune diseases. Finally, the course concludes on the topic of vaccination, from its historical origins to the current vaccine regimes provided today and a brief description of the exciting use of vaccines, currently under trial, for the treatment of cancers by DNA vaccines is provided.

Teaching and learning methods

This module will have ten x 2 hour lectures and a final revision lecture. Continual assessment is in the form of a mid semester multiple choice question (MCQ) exam, in which the content of lectures 1-8 will be assessed. There will be an opportunity to practice MCQ exam skills in which direction and feedback are provided.

Resources & Reading list

Internet Resources

British Immunology Society.

Textbooks

Janeway, Travers, Walport and Schlomchik. Janeway’s Immunobiology.

Goldsby, Kindt and Osborne. Kuby’s Immunology. Freeman and company.

Assessment strategy

1. Mid-semester compulsory MCQ on innate and acquired immunity = 15%

2. Examination comprises 3 sections, which includes a compulsory MCQ section (these will not include already assessed innate and acquired immunity), and a diagram/short answer question and 1 essay from a choice of 4 = 85%

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External